The 12 Steps–Miraculous Baby Steps To A New Life!

There is nothing I wanted more than to lose weight. I had tried as long as I could remember to lose my extra pounds, but it felt like the harder I tried, the worse my eating became. I was completely powerless over it and I knew it would take a miracle for me to lose my weight and keep it off permanently. I had little hope of ever experiencing this. That is, until I was introduced to the 12 Steps.

For some reason, the first night I heard them almost 30 years ago I knew they were the answer! I knew that they would break down the surrender process for me so that I could quit playing tug-of-war with God over food. What I didn’t know was that they would become the structure I needed to help me surrender more and more of myself to Him every day, not just my food.

The 12 Steps have helped millions of people
The 12 Steps have helped millions of people all over the world for over 75 years. The steps I use are very similar to AA’s, but rather than referring to “God as we understand him,” our steps refer to Him by name–“God through Jesus Christ.”

Let’s take a peek at the short form of the first three steps:

Step 1 I can’t! (I give up the idea that I can lose weight on diets and willpower.)

Step 2 God can! (I know that God can help me to do the impossible and I will look to Him for help.)

Step 3 I’ll let Him! (I will cooperate with Him one day at a time.)

The Bible tells us many things that we can do to cooperate with God in the recovery process. Hebrews 12:13 explains this: “Make level paths for your feet, so that the lame may not be disabled, but rather healed.” I realized that I was lame (I literally couldn’t walk away from the dessert table!) and I needed to make level paths for my feet if I wanted to be healed.

The most obvious things we can do to make level paths for our feet are being honest about our weaknesses, praying for help, reading the Bible and reaching out to other Christians for accountability and encouragement.

Working the steps is a life-long process

We don’t quickly work through the steps and then just quit. The 12 Steps provide a life-long process so that, one day at a time, we are able to take baby steps toward becoming the person we want to be.

Here are the most important 12 Step principles. Consider each and put a check next to the ones that you need to start working on:

¨ Recognize when you’ve made a mistake, confess it and learn from it.

¨ Draw close to God and rely on Him to give you the desire and ability to do His will.

¨ Don’t waste your days blaming others and denying your part in problems. Clean up your side of the street. Quit trying to change other people.

¨ Practice doing things God’s way one day at a time. Recognize that your circumstances provide opportunities to help you learn and make progress toward becoming the best you can be.

¨ Share what you’re learning with others with similar problems. When you do, your mistakes won’t be wasted. When you help another person to do better, you will help yourself.

If you’re stuck in a bad habit or addiction, why don’t you consider going to a 12 Step meeting? It might just change your life like it has mine!

Julie Morris is the founder of Guided By Him, a 12-Step Christian weight-loss program you can do by yourself or in a group (www.guidedbyhim.com). Author of 12 books and inspiring motivational speaker, she is offering a “mini-retreat” January 22, 2010 in Birmingham, AL for those who want to lose weight. Email her for questions about the program or registration for the “retreat.” Julie@guidedbyhim.com.

About Julie Morris

Julie Morris is an internationally recognized author of 12 books, popular motivational speaker and founder of two Christian weight-loss programs Step Forward (www.stepforwarddiet.com) and a lighter and easier version of Step Forward, Guided By Him (www.guidedbyhim.com). She would love to show you the way to a thinner, not so stressed-out way of living. E-mail her today! Julie@guidedbyhim.com